System of multicurrent distribution.



H. M. SCHEIBE.

SYSTEM OF MULTICURRENT DISTRIBUTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27,1912.

1, 1 1 2,482, Patented Oct. 6, 1914}.

l l l i WWNESSESI 26 I V T0 MAM I ATTORNEY Ill UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HAROLD M. soHEIBE, or WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIoNon 'ro wns'rmc-HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYL-VANIA.

SYSTEM OF MULTICUBRENT DISTRIBUTION,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 191 1.

Original application filed October 8, 1910, Serial No. 586,079. Dividedand this application filed May 27, 1912. Serial No.700,003.

body an alternating current source of en-- ergy, secondary electricbatteries or accumulators and an interposed vapor rectlfier.

The object of my invention is to provide a system of the class aboveindicated that shall be particularly reliable in operation and adaptedfor general use where a skilled at-r tendant is not available.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 586,079, filed October 8, 1910,of which this application is a division, and which has matured intoPatent No. 1,036,914, issued Aug. 27, 1912, l have shown and described asystem of electric current regulation and distribution of theabove-named character and have laid claim to an automatic governor forcontrolling the starting and stopping of a vapor rectifier and forautomatically inter- 'rupting both the alternating and direct currentcircuits of the system under predetermined abnormal conditions. I am nowclaiming the system of regulation and distribution as a whole.

The single figure of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic view ofa battery-charging system embodying my invention. 7 1

Referring to the drawing, alternating current energy may be suppliedfrom any suitable source, such as generator 1, through a 'reactancemember 2, an auto-transformer 3 and circuit conductors 4- and 5, to theterminals 6 and 7 of the vapor rectifier 8. Regulating dials 9 and 10are adapted to so vary the circuit connections of the autotransformer 3as to adjust the alternating current voltage impressed upon therectifier. A relay switch 11 is introduced into a circuit conductor 75*which supplies energy for tilting the rectifier bulb, and its coil 12is' connected in series with the direct currentclrcuit of the rectifier,whlch niaymclude a storage battery 18 or some other suitable load. Oneterminal of the load is connected to the middle point of theauto-transformer 3 and the other is connected to the direct currentterminal 14 of the rectifier bulb.

The rectifier comprises a substantially cruciform bulb, a supportingframe 16 therefor, which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 17, and astarting or tilting magnet 18 having a movable core member 20 and magnetcoils 21, 22 and 23. The frame 16 is provided with a crank projection 24which s connected to the movable core member 20, the arrangement ofparts being such that, when the coils 21 and 23 are energized. therectifier will be so tilted, in opposition to a weight 26, that themercury Within the rectifier bulb will form a circuit connection betweenthe direct current terminal 14: of the rectifier and a starting terminal27, in a well known manner.

The relay switch 11 comprises a substantially rectangular frame 27, abracket 32 on one side of the coil 12, stationary and movable coremembers 35 and 36, a lever 37 which is pivotally connected to the frame27, a latch arm 39 pivotally suspended from a lug 31, a weight-bearingrod 41 pivotally suspended from theouter end of the lever 37, stationaryContact terminals l2 and 43 and a movable contact member 4% that isoperatively connected to the core member 36. The inner end of the lever37 has a projection 33' which is adapted to engage the under side of anenlargement 419 on a rod which constitutes the means of connectionbetween the movable core member and the.

contact member 44. The weight of the rod 41 normally tends to move thecontact member 44 into engagement with the stationary contact terminals12 and 43. The rod 41 is provided with a notched projection 60 which isengaged, under predetermined conditions, by a finger 61 at the lower endof the arm 39. A floating weight 62 is loosely mounted on the rod 11above the bracket 32, upon which it rests, except when the magnetwinding 12 is energized to a predetermined degree. The weight 62 isprovided with a sleeve portion 62 which surrounds the rod 11 and isadapted to pass through an opening in the bracket 32. The arm 39 isnormally free to resume the position that is determined by its center ofgravity and is so formed that the finger 61 tends to engage a notch 71in the promotion 60 of the rod 41,

, but the contour of the projection isvsuch that the finger will passover the notch if the rod 41 is'actuated to pass very rapidly in eitherengagementwith the notch 71 at this point.

B this means the Weight rod 41 is latched, when the elec ro-mag'net isenergized by a current "which is slightly less than the approximatepredetermined value, so that the contact membere is held positively fromengaging the'stationary terminals 42 and 43.

Bell crank levers 74 and an arm or lever 75 are pivotally supported bythe frame 27 on a pin 73 and the levers 74 carry movable contact members85, which cooperate with pairs of stationary contact members 84.

I The arrangement of the parts is-such that upward movements of the arm75 are transmitted directly to the bell crank levers, while a-downward'movement of the arm tends to separate it'from the levers. A spring 100,however, constrains the levers 74 to follow the arm 75 and thus tend toseparate the contact members. Such downward move ments of the coremember 36 as accompany the normal operation of the relay switch, do notaffect the arm 75, but, if the coil 12 is traversed by abnormally largecurrents, the core member 36 will be forced downwardly to such an extentthat the lower end of a rod 38, which is secured to the core member 36,extends downwardly through a hole in the stationary core member-35 andengages the arm 75. \Vhen a projection 91 of the lever 75 engages anotch 98 of a lever 94:, which is pivoted at 95 on the frame 27 springs92 are under tension and the circuit breaker may occupy its open circuitposition. If the arm 75 is released from springs 92 will lift the arm 75' and produce such rotative movement of the bell crank levers 74 as toclose the circuit breaker.

The operation of the system is as follows: Assuming that the relayswitch is open, the

circuit interrupter closed and the rectifying process in operation, therelay coil 12 being energized sufliciently to separate the contactmember 44 from the terminals 4-2 and 43, the arm 41 and the Weight 62being raised so that the notch 71 is somewhat above the finger 61, andthe storage battery only partially charged, if the rectifying process isinterrupted, for any reason, such as the interruption 0f the alternatingcur rent supply circuit, the relay switch will, of course, be closed,since the coil 12 will be denergized by reason of the failure of the Ithe notch 98, the,

rent circuit of the rectifier. terrupter Wlll, of course, remain closedcurrent traversing the direct current circuit of the rectifier andtheweight 62 will pull the rod downward with such force that" bulb. Themercury contained in the bulb will then form a circuit connectionbetween the terminals 14 and 2c of the rectifier and,

by this means, the coil 22 will be short circuited, thereby neutralizingthe pulling force exerted by the coils 21 and on the core member 20 andpermitting thecounterweight :36 to return the rectifier to its normaloperating position. The short circuit, referred to above, will thus beinterrupted and an electric arc produced; so that the alternatingcurrent voltage applied to the rectifier terminals may start therectifying process, in a well known mann The action of the startingmagnet Wlll ooviously be repeated if the rectifier fails to start. Thevoltage applied to the rectifier bulb is so proportioned that, when thebattery is fully charged, its counter-electrom'otive force willsufliciently oppose the direct cur,- rent voltage of the rectifier tointerrupt the rectifying process and decnergize the relay switch. Thisoccurs after the current has fallen below a predetermined limit which isnot suilicient to keep the relay switch open, in opposition to both theweights of the rod 421 and the weight 62 and, consequently, the switchhas moved slowly toward its closed position until the weight (32 comesinto ongagement with the bracket 32, the parts having thus been broughtto rest long enough for the projection 61 of the arm 39 to come intoengagement with the notch 71. When the rectifier ceases to operate, andthe relay coil is thereby completely decnergized, the relay is latched,so that the circuit of the starting device is held open. In order tostart the rectifier, it is necessary to release the weight rod 41, whichmay be accomplished by rotating the latch 39. Thus, it is apparent thatthe rectifying process may be automatically stopped and prevented fromattempting to restart when the current traversing the direct currentcircuit falls gradually below a predetermined amount, although it willbe automatically restarted in the manner previously described if therectifying process is suddenly interrupted under other conditions.

The two poles of the circuit interrupter are respectively connected inthe alternating current supply circuit and in the direct our- Thecircuit inunder normal conditions,

but it is possible that, if the rectifier is used for batterychargingpurposes, the charging plug may be short-circuit ed, or some otheraccident may cause a very large current to be drawn from the directcurrent circuit of the system, in

which case, it is desirable to automatically interrupt both thealternating and direct current circuits, The structure of the relayswitch is such, as already described, that,

under overload conditions, the movable corecuitinterrupter as to permitit to close.

The details of this mechanism are shown in Patent No. 1,036,914previously referred to and need not be further described herein.

I claim as my invention:

,1. The combination with an alternating current supply circuit, a vaporrectifier, a direct current receiving circuit, starting means for therectifier, automatic re-starting means for the rectifier, and meansdependent upon an abnormal current in the direct current receivingcircuit for interrupting both the alternating current supply circuit andthe direct current receiving circuit.

2. In a battery-charging system, the c0mbination with an alternatingcurrent supply circuit, a vapor rectifier, a storage battery, startingmeans for the rectifier, and means dependent upon an interruption of thecharging current for re-starting the rectifying process, of a circuitinterrupter, and means dependent upon an abnormal current in the batterycircuit for actuating the interrupter to open the alternating currentsupply circuit and the storage battery circuit.

3. In a battery-charging system, the combination with an alternatingcurrent supply circuit, a vapor rectifier, a storage battery, startingmeans for the rectifier, means dependent upon an interruption of thecharging current for restarting the rectifying process and meansdependent upon the weakening of the charging current for preventing therestarting of the rectifying process, of a circuit interrupter, andmeans dependent upon an abnormal current in the battery circuit foractuating the interrupter to open the alternating current supply circuitand the storage battery circuit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th dayof May, 1912.

HAROLD M. SOHEIBE.

Witnesses:

OLImR S. JENNINGS, B. B. I-IINEs.

